Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the statement made by seven Coalition senators in their dissenting report in the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee’s report Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2010 [No. 2] that ‘the principle of “free, prior and informed consent” is a fundamental human rights principal for Indigenous peoples’, and

(ii)

that the principle of ‘free, prior and informed consent’ is reflected in Articles 19 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which was recently endorsed by the Federal Government but has yet to be implemented in Australian law;

(b)

affirms the view that ‘free, prior and informed consent’ is a fundamental human rights principle for Indigenous peoples; and

(c)

calls on all current and future Australian governments to ensure this principle is taken into account in developing, implementing and administering their laws and programs.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government was very pleased to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The declaration recognises the legitimate entitlement of Indigenous people to all human rights based on principles of equality, partnership, good faith and mutual benefit. We want all Australians to participate fully and freely in our democratic processes. The Australian government recognises how important it is for Indigenous Australians to have a strong voice. The Australian government has supported the establishment of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples to give Indigenous people a voice in national affairs. The government has also supported the establishment of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance to represent Indigenous women’s interests.

Question agreed to.